New England Nanny

Swimming and Sailing Lessons - Tiverton Yacht Club (RI)

2018-07-06T20:35:00.000-04:00

Tiverton Yacht Club (RI)

After researching local swim programs and fees, including the YMCA and a specialty swim school in Bristol, RI called Ripples; my friend C decided to enroll her three boys (Ages 7, 5, and 4) in swim lessons at the Tiverton Yacht Club in Tiverton, RI.

The classes meet two times per week (30 minutes) for 4 weeks (8 lessons total), and non-members pay $100. There are two sessions, so children may take the next level class after completing their first if desired. For $12.50 a lesson, C thought this was the best local deal.

She also likes that there are two lessons per week, rather than one, so the boys can build upon their previously learned skills and not lose momentum.

Dates/Times/Fees: Swimming Lessons at Tiverton Yacht Club (RI)

Covered Tables Adjacent to Swimming Pool - TYC

The TYC sits in a breezy location on top of a hill across from the harbor. There is a covered area with a few picnic tables for parents and siblings to wait and watch. The experienced instructor was able to assess the young children's levels; encourage them feel comfortable in the water; AND teach them quite a few useful water skills in a 30-minute time frame. All three boys enjoyed their first week's lessons and can't wait to go back!

Young Sailors at Tiverton Yacht Club (RI)

On the way out, we noticed a group of young sailors learning how to sail! A quick check of the TYC website resulted in a list of sailing programs for members and non-members of varying ages. They seem to span the length of the summer from June to August, meeting two days or more per week. The younger group meets for 3 hours, while the older students have a full-day schedule. The fees seem very comparable to summer camp rates:

Dates/Times/Fees: Sailing Lessons at Tiverton Yacht Club (RI)

Tiverton Yacht Club (RI) Website

Sailing Lessons at Tiverton Yacht Club (RI)

Playground Review - Jamestown, MA

2018-07-02T16:01:00.001-04:00

Jamestown Community Playground, RI

Teacher, Mom, and 3 Boys (under 7) Rating: * * * * (out of 4)

Note: Although I'm currently a preschool teacher and no longer a nanny, I still love all things early childhood! This means taking field trips with my friend and her three young boys (Ages 7, 5, and 4) and sharing our findings with others. We especially love free and low-cost outings, so playgrounds are at the top of our list! When we find ice-cream or other treats nearby, we include that information as well.

The newly updated Jamestown playground still has that fresh mulch smell and is attactive, clean and spacious! The pathways are made of compressed rubber and have a nice cushiony bounce as you walk. The playground is located directly behind the town library (directions below), which might be an additional little stop if you have the time.

New Mulch and Rubber Pathways at Jamestown Community Playground, RI

Pros:

Two large themed structures are the first things you notice as you approach the white picketed fence playground:

Spaceship area and Pirate ship area with multiple covered slides and stairs to climb:

Climber and Space Ship area at Jamestown Community Playground, RI

Pirate Ship area at the Jamestown Community Playground, RI

You'll also find:

Climber: a large netted pyramid-shaped climber between the two.

Swings: a row of swings (including an adapted/safety swing) for children and infants

Zipline with platforms on both sides and a disc seat attached to a thick rope. THIS was one of the most popular attractions at the Jamestown playground. Parental intervention was needed at times to make sure children in line received a turn! (There is no close-up photo of the zipline, but it is along the back fence in the photo below.)

Swings and Zipline at the Jamestown Community Playground, RI

Bonuses:

Fenced in along street/parking areas and latched gate. Children can run around and have fun, but they can't run away faster than you can catch them.

About three picnic tables and a small grassy area to put down a blanket. At this stage, there are no benches, which might be a nice future addition.

Our three boys played for three hours straight before they started getting hungry and realized it was about an hour past their usual dinner time!

Cons:

Other than swings, there isn't much here for infants or toddlers. We taked to some grandparents with their one-year-old, and they were disappointed that there wasn't something more her size or speed.

Town Webpage: Jamestown Parks and Recreation - Community Playground

Location/Map: Jamestown Library at 26 North Road - Playground behind

Nearby Ice Cream can be found at Spinnaker's, located in the beautiful Ferry Wharf area where the Jamestown Ferry launches. There are a few outside tables adjacent to a parking lot, and they offer basic food fare for children and adults (nothing to write home about), but the ice cream was a hit.

Spinnaker's Cafe, 3 Ferry Wharf, Jamestown, RI

There's also a small beach a few steps away from the wharf for walking, boat watching, and shell hunting.

Beach Near Ferry Wharf, Jamestown, RI

View of the Newport Bridge from Beach Near Ferry Wharf, Jamestown, RI

Best Preschool Egg Hunt

2017-03-05T13:33:00.000-05:00

I’ve tried all types of egg hunts, but this has been my favorite for four years straight. The children are excited, happy, and content! What more can you ask for?

To view the rest of the article and photos, please head over to my newest blog, which I started to store and share my favorite early childhood activities:

My Preschool File Cabinet - Best Preschool Egg Hunt

Mid-Week Mom Tip: Review of The Dinosaur Place in Montville, CT

2015-08-20T15:41:00.000-04:00

My friend, Melissa, is a home daycare provider/owner and inventor of Pick-Ease, a utensil that makes eating fun for children, including picky eaters. She's also the mom of two young boys and likes to take them on fun-filled field trips. She writes about this trip and other topics of interest to parents on her Pick-Ease blog, so you can check them out at Pick-Ease.com. I'm sharing her review of their recent trip to The Dinosaur Place in Montville, CT below:

This Summer, my family visited The Dinosaur Place for the very first time. The Dinosaur Place is located in Montville, CT, just minutes from Mystic Aquarium. Now, we’ve been to Mystic Aquarium numerous time, but I had never heard of The Dinosaur Place until last year. If you haven’t been yet, I highly recommend it! What an amazing day trip that’s fun for the whole family!

The Dinosaur Place

At The Dinosaur Place you will find over 40 Life-Sized Dinosaurs on 1.5 miles of nature trails. You’ll also enjoy playing in Monty’s Dino-sized playground, finding your way through the A “Maze” asaurus, bouncing in the Jurassic Moon Bounce, splashing in New England’s largest splashpad, and much more!

Monty’s Dino-Sized Playground

When entering the The Dinosaur Place you will first see Monty’s Dino-Sized Playground. I love that the playground was designed for children of all ages. There are multiple Jungle Gyms of varying difficulties throughout Monty’s Playground, including a separate toddler-sized play area for little ones! My boys especially loved climbing on and through the 3 foot tall Pachyrhinosaurus (thick-nosed lizard) skull!

Splashpad

The Dinosaur Place is also home to New England’s largest Splashpad! Once again, accommodating children of all ages was considered during the design of this splashpad. My youngest son loves water but hates being splashed in the face, so I was very pleased to find that there was an area that he too could enjoy! In the Splashpad area you will find over 30 dinosaur-themed features including dinosaur head water cannons, a dinosaur “ribcage” waterfall, a spitting Stegosaurus, and more! There are also bathrooms and changing areas located right outside the Splashpad.

Dinosaur Trails

Once again, at The Dinosaur Place you will find over 40 Life-Sized Dinosaurs on 1.5 miles of nature trails. To enter the Dinosaur Trails, you will walk under the belly of a life-sized Brachiosaurus. This dinosaur is 75 feet long and 40 feet tall! Walking through the Dinosaur Trails truly was an amazing experience for all of us. I had never seen anything like it before. The kids really loved exploring the trails and discovering all of the different types of dinosaurs! They also loved stopping at each of the “What am I?” touch and learn activity boxes located throughout the trails. In these boxes you will discover different objects including dinosaur teeth, seashells and more! Towards the end of the dinosaur trails you will find a life-like interactive animatronic Dilophosaurus hiding in a cave! We had to visit this dinosaur a few times during our visit, as it was a favorite for all of us!

Raptor Bay

Upon exiting the Dinosaur Trails, you will come to Raptor Bay which is a seven-acre man-made lake. Along the edge of the lake there is a volcano that “erupts” every hour on the hour. When the volcano erupts you will feel the ground vibrate and see mist spray out of the top.

Jurassic Moon Bounce

The Jurassic Moon Bounce is a great addition to The Dinosaur Place. What kid doesn’t love jumping in a bouncy house?

A “Maze” asaurus

If you go towards the right, upon entering the dinosaur trails, you will come to the A “Maze” asaurus. This is a large maze with lots of twists and turns than you have find your way though. I love that maze is raised so you can see your little one’s feet, making it easier to find them if they get lost! To exit the maze you will slide through the mouth of a giant Tyrannosaurus Rex!

Discovery Depot

Everything I’ve listed above is included in the admission to The Dinosaur Place, and it’s more than enough fun to fill your day, but if you’re up for a little more adventure, stop by the Discovery Depot, located right next door! For an additional fee, at the Discovery Depot you can mine for gems, pan for gold, and dig for dinosaur bones! Some of these activities are only done at certain hours of the day so be sure to check for times on the big board located in The Dinosaur Place gift shop, where you also purchase tickets to The Dinosaur Place.

The Bone Zone

In The Bone Zone your child will work along side other children to uncover the skeleton of a dinosaur. Dr. Bonz teaches the children a bit about paleontologists, and walks them through the proper techniques for digging for dinosaur bones. After about 15 minutes of digging, Dr. Bonz will talk a bit more about the dinosaur that was uncovered. She will then hand each child a small case with 5 real fossils in it. The fossils alone made this activity worth the price, and the kids had lots of fun digging in the sand!

Jackpot Mine

The Jackpot Mine is Southeastern Connecticut’s only replica silver mine. Before you enter, you will be given a souvenir bucket to place whatever your find in. In the mine your child will dig with their hands to try find over 50 kinds of real gemstones, crystals and minerals. Best of all, you get keep everything you find! This was definitely one of my favorite parts of our trip. Just beware that you are not allowed to help your child dig, so if your child is on the younger side and will require help, make sure you purchase a ticket for yourself too!

Thunder Creek

Unfortunately, we didn’t participate in the Thunder Creek activity. After an extremely long day, our kids were just too tired to keep going, but this is definitely on our to-do list for next year! At Thunder Creek your child will be given a souvenir pouch to keep all of the “fools gold” they find while panning for gold!

What’s to Eat?

Inside The Dinosaur Place, you can grab some food at Monty’s Munchies, located next to the Splashpad. There you can get traditional concession foods – burgers, hot dogs, chicken nuggets, etc. Although the food was good, the wait was extremely long, so I would recommend you pack your own lunch. This has nothing to do with the servers, as they were working as hard as they could. There were just so many people ordering, that they couldn’t keep up with it.

Another food option would be to eat at the Cobalt Cafe, located in The Shops at Nature’s Art Village. We didn’t visit this restaurant but from their website, I see that they offer a bit more than Monty’s Munchies.

Lastly, there is an ice cream shop at The Dinosaur Place which is the perfect way to end an amazing day! On top of ice cream, they also offer Root Beer Floats and other beverages

Tips

Don’t forget your bug spray and sun block! Also, bring lots of water and wear comfortable shoes!

The NEW Tiverton Library - Children's Section

2015-06-23T15:59:00.001-04:00

Teacher and Kiddo Rating: * * * * (out of 4)

I finally had a chance to visit the newly opened library in Tiverton, RI with two of my kindergarten-aged friends on our last day of school field trip. I managed to capture some photos with my basic cell phone camera, but the photos don't do it justice. The children's area of the library is clean, bright, and colorful with many places to explore and lots of comfy seating for adults and children. Even though we spent almost two full hours there on our way to the beach, the kiddos really wanted to spend more time trying out everything there was to do.

Design in Motion Velcro-Type Activity

Soft, Vinyl Blocks with Velcro-Type Attachments

Also impressive, were the additional spaces geared toward toddlers and infants. With plenty of space to crawl/walk around as toddlers like to do, the library makes use of wall space for interactive Velcro-type activities and a long desk area with toddler-sized chairs to work on puzzles or a computer. Plenty of larger computers are available for older children in a separate, partitioned circular area (not photographed).

Crawling Infants Area with Rocking Chairs

Toddler-Sized Desk Area with Puzzles and Computer

Stuffed Book Characters

Velcro-Type Activity and Knob Puzzles

Magnet Activity

Dry-Erase Table

The children's special event or story time area (I'm guessing, as we spied some big books on an easel and puppets in the corner) is still a work in progress. A sign on the door stated that children were allowed in with adult supervision.

Behind swinging glass doors, separated by a blue and lime green wall with circular port-hole windows, is a room filled with small tables and chairs (future crafts possibly) and bins with some quiet, construction/manipulative toys such as Duplo-type blocks and large foam blocks.

The projector hanging from the ceiling, spotlights facing the opposite wall, and stacked seating cushions all hint at the fun events to come!

Story Time / Event Room

Foam Blocks in Event Room

Ball Maze in Event Room

My little friend wanted a photo of the bright and cheery restroom (one of two for families right in the Children's Area).

My personal favorite on the adult side of the library -- outdoor balcony with tables/chairs.

More Info:

Tiverton Public Library in Rhode Island

Location/Map

34 Roosevelt Avenue

Tiverton, RI 02878

Phone:

1-401-625-6796

Hours:

Monday - Thursday 10 AM - 8 PM; Friday 10 AM - 5 PM; Saturday 10 AM - 4 PM; Closed Sundays

Restroom Information:

Two clean, bright family restrooms are available in the children's area, apart from the main library. They contain flip-down changing stations for diapers; auto-flush toilets, and motion-activated soap dispensers; water faucets, and hand dryer. :)

2013-10-12T12:51:00.000-04:00

A Cool New Keyboard for Preschoolers and Awesome Websites to Try!

Over the summer I've been working on meeting requirements to open a licensed family childcare program in my home. I'm so excited to begin this new venture, called Teacher's Pet Pre-K! If you get a chance, visit my Facebook page and check it out! I just posted about my new keyboard, and wanted to share it here as well.

It's called the FunkeyBoard, and I purchased it from Amazon for $39. I love it! It's a color-coded computer keyboard geared towards helping children distinguish between vowels, consonants, numbers, function keys, and punctuation/symbols. Even the little mouse is color-coded to help children learn how to right/left click and scroll!

My only pet peeve about having computers available for young children in schools is that they are often just plunked down in front of the screen with a game loaded up to play by themselves. Are they learning anything? Maybe, but not usually.

The specific sites listed below will require minimum instruction for youngsters, yet will allow them true independence once they know what to do and how to use the tools (keyboard and mouse). Best of all, these activities are easy and actually educational! They reinforce valuable Pre-K and K literacy, language, and writing skills. Everyone wins!

My favorite of all time is Storyline Online. Children can watch, listen, and read along (if they have a copy) to classic books read by Betty White, Elijah Wood, James Earl Jones, and other members of the Screen Actor's Guild.

Next, children can practice writing the alphabet on an online writing pad and watch demonstrations by a cute spider on how to form the letters at: MeddyBemps.

Two other favorites (although there are many more) are found at the same site, ABCya:

Upper and Lowercase Letter Matching

Alphabet Bingo

I hope you and your little one enjoy these activities!

Liebster Award

2013-07-01T19:42:00.003-04:00

Thank you to Wendy at A Daily Dose of Del Signore for this blog award. It's a nice way to get acquainted with other bloggers, so go check out her site!

The rules, should you be nominated:

1. If you were nominated, post 11 things about yourselves.
2. Then answer the 11 questions the person who nominated you created.
3. Create 11 more questions to ask the bloggers you decided to nominate.
4. Choose 11 bloggers to nominate with less than 300 followers.
5. Make sure and let these people know you nominated them! No tag backs, so don't nominate someone who nominated you.

11 things about myself:

1. I was named after a country-singing, braid-wearing, original Mouseketeer: Darlene. Dee is my nickname.

2. I received a D in 7th grade algebra, because I spent the entire year staring at the back of the head of a boy I had a crush on instead of listening to the teacher.

3. I am afraid of spiders and have a ritual of checking my ceiling, walls, blankets, sheets, and pillows each night before going to bed to make sure the coast is clear.

4. I am also afraid of wasps.

5. I've been interested in the environment and buying organic foods for the past 20 years, somewhere between the hippie movement of the 60's/70's and the current green awareness.

6. I used to write articles for our local parenting paper with topics like, Kid-Size Compost and My Favorite Day Trips -- Local Libraries.

7. I was chubby/heavy my entire life until I lost 100 pounds in my 20's and lived life for a few years as a thin person. I regained the weight over the years, and it is much harder to lose pounds now.

8. I like movies and television set in different time periods, like Downton Abby and Mad Men. Life seemed much simpler then.

9. I am obsessive about certain items/motifs, but try purposely not to collect them or would definitely become a hoarder. These items are maps/globes, tins, birds, vintage stationery/paper/advertising/stamps.

10. When I was a child I dreamed of being a singer, until the fateful day my dream died when I heard my voice played back on a tape recorder.

11. Writing this list was very personal, and the first time I've told anyone some of these things!

11 Questions for Wendy's Nominees:

1. What do you struggle with right now?

Losing weight at 50!

2. What's your favorite comfort food?

Ben & Jerry's New York Super Fudge Chunk Ice Cream

3. What can you do really well that's unusual?

It's not unusual, but I am a fast and accurate typist. I went to secretarial school out of high school, before going to college for early childhood education. I'm a terrible texter though, because I am used to using all my fingers to type on a regular keyboard!

4. What can you cook that everyone absolutely loves?

Apple Pie with Walnut Crumble Topping (modified from a Martha Stewart recipe)

5. What inspires you?

Nature, Children, and the Creativity of Others

6. What do you see yourself doing in ten years?

Teaching young children

7. What's the best advice you've ever been given?

Just like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, we've had the power all along to do what it is we'd like to do.

8. What one word do you think describes you best?

Unique

9. What is your best feature?

Eyes (according to my husband)

10. What's your favorite time of the day and why?

Late afternoon to evening, because my energy/creativity is in full swing.

11. Where is your favorite vacation spot?

Anywhere peaceful and coastal with sun and a water breeze

Questions for New England Nanny's nominees:

1. What was your original goal when starting your blog? Has it changed?

2. What would you do with your life if money was of no concern?

3. Did your parents have any other names in mind when you were born? What name would you have liked for yourself?

4. Do you collect anything?

5. Do you feel that life has taught you an important lesson? If so, what is it?

6. Do you have any words of advice for a younger you?

7. What are your "spare time" hobbies?

8. Is there something you'd like to learn to do?

9. What is your favorite childhood book or movie and why?

10. Are you a cat person or a dog person?

11. What is one thing you wish people knew about you?

I'm tagging some fellow blogger followers:

Kristen at Crafty Kris

Sharon at Sha the Nanny

Crystal at Wanna Be Balanced Mom

Angel at Chasing Serenity

CJ at Killing Superwoman

Judy at Coffee Jitters

Beth at Create Your Traditions

Janette at Jan's Crafty Nest

Silvia at Mama Latina Tips

RJ's Mama at My Baby RJ

Lindsay at Lindsay's Tea Party

Rockin' Lullabies

2012-12-12T19:51:00.000-05:00

Rockin' Lullabies

After years of working with young children, there are just so many times I can listen to Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. Recently while searching my library's statewide catalog for soothing music to play during mealtimes in my preschool classroom, I stumbled upon lullaby versions (instrumental) of music from Journey, Aerosmith, Queen, and the Beatles -- classic rock songs that I grew up with.

Somehow they've taken out the harsh drums and guitars and replaced them with gentle bells and other calming instruments, yet they retain the melody of the original. I love them; the children love them; so it's a win-win.

I've gone back to the library catalog for more titles and found versions available for everyone from Green Day and Nirvana to Black Sabbath and Bjork!

You'll find all available titles at their website listed below, including sample tracks to listen to first. Remember to also check your library!

Rockabye Baby!

Potty Training Part I - Readiness

2012-10-08T20:03:00.000-04:00

I've trained my share of potty goers over the years and would like to share three important related facts to start:

1. When children are ready, things will go much more smoothly, so timing is everything.

2. Too early and frustration and battles of will ensue -- no one is happy and potty learning goes on too long.

3. Too late and habits have formed that are difficult to break. Potty training becomes a stressful race against the clock to be ready for preschool instead of a naturally occurring life event.

Montessori-based educators state the sensitive period for potty training is between 12 months and 18 months, which is right for some children. Other experts say that the parent is the one being trained, as they are responsible for making sure the child sits on the potty at specified times of the day, but still it can be successful.

In my experience, 18 months to up to 2 1/2 years is the window of time that seems successful for most children.

In order to begin using the potty for bowel movements*, children need:

1. An understanding of the language of their body parts and functions

2. A predictable or regular schedule of bowel movements

3. Practice in pulling pants (loose fitting and elastic waist) up and down themselves

4. A parent or caregiver who is willing to dedicate a period of time to the initial learning process (at least one full week of consistency and routine if possible. If not, a long 4-day weekend may get you started on the road to success).

This step is especially important as the child will need guidance, reminders, and positive reinforcement to achieve this huge developmental milestone! This will mean missing story time at the library or other scheduled activities, but it will be worth it.

*Urination sensations can be more complex for children to understand. The best indicator of physical readiness for urination is diaper dryness after a nap period. A child may still need a daily diaper, pull-up, or training underwear for occasional wetness, but may use the potty for all bowel movements until he or she can control urination.

Photo Credit: Dreamstime/Anitapatterson

'I Have to Go...' or Life after Potty Training

2011-11-20T16:33:00.001-05:00

When my daughter was small, I wrote articles for the local parenting paper, The Bristol County Baby Journal, and occasional columns for our daily newspaper, The Providence Journal (Providence, RI). Now that little R is entering his pottying stage, I'm reminded of a column I wrote about life after potty training (circa 1995) that I'd like to share with you:

Whew -- my local tour is complete. What a whirlwind of activity for four years. I never thought I would see them all, but I have.

Historical sites? Ivy League schools? Plays at Trinity? No - public restrooms. I'm the mother of a six-year-old daughter whose hobby is to visit public restrooms. Why go at home when you can check out strange bathrooms all over the state?

Today we visited three in under three hours. Must be a world record.

I pretty much expected visiting the restroom at McDonalds, our first stop. But 10 minutes into our browse through Target, after reaching the opposite side of the store, came that familiar whisper: "Mommy, I have to go to the bathroom." Off we trudge and there I wait. She's getting better at this. She likes to chat, ask questions and explain her philosophy of life while she sits. My foot is tapping, eyes rolling, cheeks reddening.

One more quick stop at the drugstore to get toothpaste and toilet paper (how appropriate) before we head home. Halfway up the toothpaste aisle, I hear it again. I'm ready to scream.

I tell her they have no bathroom here, she'll need to wait. We'll be home in minutes. She threatens to do it anyway unless I find her a bathroom. I ask a clerk; he points to the other side of the store. "I told you," she says.

Parents have their patience tested continually, but in this area I have been pushed way beyond my tolerance level. Bathrooms are pretty boring (not to mention the lack of cleanliness issue) if you're the one designated to hold the other person's coat, hat, assorted long necklaces, and a large stuffed leopard named Jasmine. Waiting. And waiting. I'm concerned that the security cameras watching the sink area of the restrooms we visit will think I've lost my mind. To pass the time, I roll my eyes toward the ceiling and shake my head in disbelief.

When she was potty training, strange-bathroom visiting became the rule. I learned about bathrooms in places I never knew had them. All the store clerks had to do was see a toddler jumping in place or crossing her legs and they'd gladly show us the secret hidden restrooms for Employees Only.

At four she lost interest in the excitement of conquering a new restroom. Since turning six, however, she's at it again, but with newly acquired skills.

She's now tall enough to turn the sink on and off; adjust the hot and cold to suit her temperature needs; work the various models of soap dispensers, and reach the handle crank for the paper towels. Or, my personal favorite -- electric hand dryers. Loud, hot, annoying. She always dries twice - doesn't like damp hands.

I smile meekly at the women who efficiently come and go through the restroom door. They think she is so cute, lathering up her hands and gazing into the mirror.

All the while, I'm thinking, "Good, here's her stuff. You wait while I shop."

This column appeared in The Providence Sunday Journal on September 3, 1995.

East Bay RI Groups for Moms

2011-11-02T19:52:00.000-04:00

Two years ago I started my blog, hoping to connect with other caregivers or parents who spend their days with young children. Although I connected with many wonderful and talented moms, most were online only and spread across the country!

Today I found a terrific site, Aquidneck MomsTown, serving the Portsmouth, Middletown, and Newport areas. What a great resource for parents seeking information about local kid-friendly events, businesses, and other topics of interest to families. I especially love their monthly event calendar -- tons of local activities!

Other nearby RI and Southeastern MA groups online:

Moms Club of East Bay RI (Bristol, Warren, and Barrington areas) -
they are also on Facebook: MOMS-Club-of-East-Bay-RI

Somerset Moms Club (Somerset, Swansea, and Fall River areas)

Moms Club of Fairhaven, MA (Acushnet, Westport, Dartmouth, New Bedford, Mattapoisett, and Fairhaven areas)

Toddler-Sized Zoo

2011-04-11T12:39:00.000-04:00

Buttonwood Park Zoo in New Bedford, Massachusetts

Emily - African Elephant at Buttonwood Zoo

Update: 6/2015: I discovered that due to an incident involving one of the zoos elephants, that Buttonwood Zoo was named one of the "Ten Worst Zoos For Elephants" by the animal rights organization In Defense of Animals.

From Wikipedia: On January 3, 2014, Asian elephant Ruth was found outside in subzero temperatures during a blizzard.^[7] The zoo was cited and fined $777 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture under the Animal Welfare Act for failure to secure access.^[8] Ruth subsequently suffered frostbite of her ears, tail and vulva. Portions of her ears fell off, and on November 5, 2014, approximately 10" of her tail was surgically removed.

This update saddens me, but I am hoping that this has improved conditions for elephants at the zoo, and that the following information is still helpful to parents seeking a small-size zoo for young children.

Here in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island, Roger Williams Zoo is a popular family destination, but its not always the best option for babies and toddlers for two reasons:

- Roger Williams is a huge zoo with many walking paths in the hot, blazing sun

- Animals in their natural habitat (ie. Giraffes in an African environment) can be too far away for baby to actually see them.

Here's why Buttonwood Park Zoo is one of my favorite places to take little ones:

-Children under 3 are free!

- Farm Animals! Pigs, sheep, horses, cows, chickens, roosters, and more are always a big hit with the under three crowd. At this smaller zoo, the animals are close enough to actually see and possibly touch.

-Less area to cover on the circular walking path, so toddlers can walk part of the way if they choose. You can visit this zoo for an hour or two in the AM to be home by nap time or in the afternoon to be back for dinner. You can also make a day out of it and take advantage of the attached park and playground.

-There are many covered areas along the zoo's walking path with park benches to take a break from the sun. Most days there is a beautiful breeze.

-Large indoor eating area with snack bar, plenty of tables, and air conditioning for warmer days. You are not required to purchase food to sit inside and eat your snacks.

- Playground just outside the zoo entrance with mature trees for shade and benches

-Very large green park for running, kicking a ball, flying a kite, or having a picnic.

The animal selection at Buttonwood Zoo might not be as exotic and numerous as those found at a larger zoo, but there are just enough of the right type of animals for this age group in a manageable size. Check out the Buttonwood Zoo website for more about their animals.

Bonus: Traveling on 195 East to Buttonwood Park Zoo in New Bedford can be a quicker, less stressful ride (especially for Bristol or Newport Country residents) than traveling through busy downtown Providence.

Additional Info:

- Click for Map and Directions

- Rental buggy/carriages available - call for pricing

- The Zoo is open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM, except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. (Last entry is at 4:30 PM) Ticket Prices:

Adults: $6
Seniors & Teens: $4.50
Child 3-12: $3.00
Children under 3: Free
Parking: Free

The Zoo accepts MasterCard and Visa at the front gate for ticket purchases and MasterCard, Visa and Discover at the Café and Gift Shop.

Group rates are available for groups of 10 or more with advanced registration. Call (508) 991-6178, ext. 31 for more information and to register.

Baby Sign Language Do's and Don'ts

2011-02-07T17:52:00.001-05:00

Thanks to Misty Weaver from Baby Sign Language for this guest post. Her informative site offers free printable flash cards like the ones shown below; a baby sign language dictionary; blog; and more!

Getting Started With Signing And Some Do's And Do Not's

To make a start with baby sign language you need to learn some basic signs. Signs which represent things that are interesting for your baby will be easier for him or her to learn to when you first begin. The sooner you start signing to your baby, the sooner he will begin to communicate back. You can start at any time, even from birth. When you have mastered your first few signs you can build up your repertoire, increasing your signing vocabulary.

Getting Started
To get started you must learn the signs yourself. Four great signs to start with are:

MOMMY: To make the sign for Mommy, extend and spread your fingers apart on your right hand. With your little finger facing forwards, tap your thumb on your chin. Mommy.

DADDY: To make the sign for Daddy, extend and spread out the fingers on your right hand, then tap your hand on your forehead with your thumb. This is similar to the sign for Mommy but done higher up the head. Daddy.

MILK: The sign for Milk is a lot like the action of milking a cow without the up and down motion. Just pretend you are just squeezing the cow’s udder. Make both hands into a fist, relax and repeat. Milk.

MORE: To make the sign for More, make an O shape with each hand by meeting your fingers and thumbs. Bring your hands together and separate them a few times. More.

It’s important to say the word that goes with the sign while pointing to the object you are signing. If the item or object is not present you can use Baby Sign Language Flash Cards to help. Say the word and make the sign every time you encounter that object. Keep good eye-contact and a positive tone of voice. Make it fun.

When your baby has mastered her first signs you can begin to introduce new ones. Stick to groups of similar ideas or objects when introducing new signs, for example food, colors, or emotions. Remember: repeat, repeat, repeat. Only introduce a few new signs at a time, and continue with these for around two months.

DO’s

Do sign when your baby is alert, using something which is exciting to her, such as Milk or Mommy.
Do practice as often as you can. Once you have learned a sign, you should make this sign every time you say the word or do the action with your baby. It is important to say the word clearly, with good eye contact, while pointing to the thing or person you are describing. Be consistent.
Do use Sign Language For Babies when you’re shopping, playing, feeding and reading with your baby. Be creative and make it fun.
Do be patient with yourself and with your baby. If you forget to sign for a day it’s fine to start again the next day. Give yourself and baby plenty of time. Signing is worth it.

DO NOT’s

Don’t forget the importance of repetition. It’s important to make the sign and say the word every time you do an action or use an object. Babies learn through repetition and it can take about two months of exposure to a sign for babies over six months to learn the sign and be ready to use it themselves.
Don’t be too results-focused.Teaching Baby Sign Language is about having fun and learning about each other. The attention and bonding you share with your baby while you are signing is as important as signing itself.
Don’t expect too much too soon. Have fun and enjoy signing, making it a part of your day. Remember, it can take at least two months of exposure to, and repetition of, a sign for a baby to learn it properly.

Humpty Who?

2010-10-09T14:08:00.000-04:00

For years I've been including a nursery rhyme board book as part of my shower gifts to new parents, because as a new mom (21 years ago), I was lucky if I could remember the first line of basic children's classics like Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.

Recently I stumbled upon this terrific book that will now be my go-to gift for new parents:

The book and companion CD contains 35 nursery rhymes that are a blend of the well-known (Baa Baa Black Sheep); some great action songs (Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes); and few that might be new to you (The Clean Up Song), one Spanish (Pio, Pio, Pio) and several French rhymes (Alouette) with English translation provided.

I've listened to many such CD's over my years working with children; and even the best of them can grate on adult nerves, but babies seem to really respond to them positively. They love the rhyming text! This CD is pleasant enough to play for babies with songs sung mostly by female voices with an occasional chorus of children.

For gift giving, the perfect combination of written words and audio CD will help new parents and grandparents alike brush up on their nursery rhymes!

Nanny's Note:

I was able to request a copy through my state's inter-library loan system to preview it before purchasing. This is a great option if you are interested in it for yourself, as you can burn the CD at home.

Free Petting Zoo - Alderbrook Farm, Dartmouth, MA

2010-09-18T18:48:00.002-04:00

Dwarf Nigerian Goat at Alderbrook Farm

Little M and Nanny Rating: * * * * (out of 4)

Thanks to new friends we met at the Westport Community Playground, Little M and I learned about a free petting zoo just one town over at Alderbrook Farm in Dartmouth, MA.

This family-owned farm has a menagerie of happy and well-cared for animals (the guard goose is an exception, but we'll get to him later). Some are in fenced-off areas, such as pygmy goats, dwarf Nigerian goats, a peacock couple, a very large rooster, a pot bellied pig, hens in a hen house, and larger pigs in a pen; but many of them will greet you at the fence so you can pet them or at least view them up close. Painted wooden signs state the animal's name, breed, and date they were born or "hatched."

Note: A farm employee told us that each day around 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM, the animals are brought into the barn for the night. This gives visitors an opportunity to pet the animals that were behind fences.

Male Peacock at Alderbrook Farm

Other animals in the open pasture areas are tethered to the ground so they can't go extremely far, such as donkeys, a sheep, and two very large steers. My camera battery died half-way through tour, so I wasn't able to capture any of the larger animals. We weren't brave enough to do more than admire the steers from afar, but both M and I were able to pet the donkey and the sheep. M also learned that everyone does indeed "poop" as some of the animals cared very little that we were standing there petting them as they did their business.

The tethered animals are moved around to new grassy areas each day, but the guard goose always seems to be near a donkey or two. As soon as someone approaches anywhere near his fenced in area, he runs over honking very loudly and sticks his long neck through the fence in an aggressive way. Both M and I had our pants nibbled at when we got too close. M was very upset, and cried that the "goose bit me," which fortunately he did not. We learned that this goose is very protective of the animals and watches over them, so be warned if you hear him honking nearby!

Beware the Guard Goose at Alderbrook Farm

Seeing animals, flowers, and vegetable gardens in a wide open space on a breezy, sunny day was plenty enough to make us happy, but another bonus was found up a small hill off the dirt road (across from the hen house and pig pen) -- a small play area with swings (one baby swing also), a slide, and some climbing ladders. There is also a riding horse on springs and a little wooden structure with toy trucks (M's favorite things). We sat in a tiny dirt patch at the bottom of the slide to dig for awhile with the vehicles before heading back down the dirt road to the farm store.

M was a little distracted when he came upon a toy farm, toy tractor and farm animals (similar animals were on sale on shelves above) to play with in the store, but it gave me just enough time to look over the delicious-looking miniature pies and artisan breads from a local bakery in addition to the farm's fresh vegetables and plants. In the end, I chose two chocolate-chip cookies and a loaf of crusty, sourdough bread while M picked out a pumpkin to bring home.

Another bonus near the parking lot were two rabbit cages containing one very fat rabbit named Bun-Bun and another spikey-haired Lionhead rabbit named Bean. We can't wait to go back!

Alderbrook Farm

Location/Map:
1213 Russells Mills Road
Dartmouth, MA 02747

Phone:
(508) 636-4562

Hours: 5:00 AM - 5:30 PM year-round

The Truth About Daycare Ratios for Infants and Toddlers

2010-08-31T15:45:00.000-04:00

Any good checklist for seeking a quality daycare center will mention inquiring about daycare ratios. How many children to how many adults in the room? Each state has its own minimum requirement.

In Massachusetts (one of the better regulated states) where I was a lead teacher in an infant room, the ratio was three infants to one adult or a maximum of seven infants to two adults. Of course most daycare centers will opt for the maximum because they are, after all, a business.

Did you ever watch Jon and Kate cope with their eight infants? Between feeding, diapering, and holding, they needed a team of volunteers to keep their household running. Maybe seven infants to two adults is easier? Think again.

The truth is that there is often just one adult per six children for a majority of the time.

Why? In daycare centers, infants/toddlers are required to have a diaper change every two hours. Diapering in a daycare center is much more complicated than at home:

Diapering area is often separated from main play/floor area by a gate or door

Caregiver notes time of diaper change and puts on rubber gloves

Each child has their own personal supply of diapering items to be retrieved from cabinets or drawers

Daycare children usually have on footwear, which needs to be removed and reassembled if the child is wearing jeans or fitted clothing, especially if there is a BM involved

After child has been diapered and brought back to the others, the caregiver must return to area to dispose of diaper/gloves and changing sheet paper, wash area with disinfectant, and lay down a new paper before retrieving the next child to be diapered.

This process takes at least 8 minutes per child in even the most efficient operations, unless clothing is wet or soiled and the child must be changed into a new outfit.

Let's do the math: 8 minutes x 7 children = 56 minutes that one caregiver is alone with the other 6 children.

One hour later, the whole process begins again with the first child that was diapered! In between diaper changes, there are bottles, highchair feedings, naps, and playtime. This is an amazing feat considering state regulations require caregivers to individually hold babies when they drink from bottles and many infants need to be rocked or held before napping. Trust me when I tell you that two sets of hands are not enough for seven infants in a childcare room following these state regulations and ratios.

You might have thought it was okay that your child was receiving 1/3 of an adult's daily attention, but what if they are actually getting by with only 1/6 of an adult's daily attention a majority of the time?

How to Find out the True Teacher to Child Ratio of a Prospective Daycare?

--Rather than being content with knowing the center's ratio, you might want to ask about the diapering process:

How often are children diapered?

Who does the diapering?

(If it is one person or the team rotates, how many adults are left with the other six children?)

--Make More than One Visit to Observe the Infant Room Before Deciding:

Most centers arrange times to talk to teachers during children's nap times, so the teacher will have time to devote to your questions. However, this is often misleading, because this is the most calm part of the day. With lullabies playing softly on the stereo, it might appear to be the perfect environment.

If you like the center after talking with the staff, ask if you can stop in another time or two to observe only. Ask to come between 11:00 AM and 12:00 PM when lunch time is in full force or 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM when children are up and about, just to get an idea of what it is truly like at different times. Only arrange these observations with the understanding that teachers will NOT have time to talk to you during these peak care hours.

Nanny's Note: I have worked and interned in a variety of daycare centers. I believe this ratio issue is one contributing factor to daycare staff burn out and turnover. I found many center environments unsafe and chaotic due to ratio issues.

I'd be very interested to hear from other caregivers with similar or very different experiences. Parents - what do you think?

Mid-Week Mom Tip - Homemade Carrot Chips

2010-08-25T05:00:00.002-04:00

Carrot Chips is only one of many tasty and nutritious recipes you'll find at Weelicious, a blog featuring fresh and wholesome baby, toddler, and family meals. I can't believe the Food Network has not snapped up this talented Mom and given her a show yet!

Found Weelicious thanks to a post by fellow New England blogger Angelika at her Playground Hunting blog. Angelika reviews and maps out tons of playgrounds in the Boston, MA area in addition to blogging about fun activities and family life. Here's her adorable son, Alex, helping to make carrot chips in the kitchen:

Hope you run over and check out both of these great blogs!

Easy Bead/Pasta Stringing with Toddlers

2010-08-24T16:16:00.003-04:00

Bead stringing is a classic activity for young children that helps strengthen their fine motor skills and allows them to perfect their hand-eye coordination. Three year olds are just about the right age for bead stringing and card lacing activities without frustration.

For beginners and younger children (two and up), bead stringing can be introduced by using large, wooden beads and pipe cleaners. The firm but flexible pipe cleaners allow small hands to point the tip accurately through the bead's opening. Once the pipe cleaner is through the bead, help young children learn how to grasp the top of the pipe cleaner to slide the bead down.

Caution: This is a good time to introduce words like sharp or "pokey" as M and I call the cut ends of the pipe cleaner. Also, just bend the bottom of pipe cleaner to make a little loop so the beads don't slide off the end.


Bead Stringing with Pipe Cleaners

Where to Find Beads?

I was very excited to find these large wooden beads at the Dollar Tree. Although painted, they meet safety standards and do not contain lead paint. Usually these types of beads can be found at a much higher price in school supply catalogs or online educational sites. Another frugal option is the large plain wooden beads or blocks found at craft stores.

Substitute: Dried pasta shapes like rigatoni for beginners and penne for more of a challenge.

I bought two sets (6 beads each). For $2, I can get a lot of play mileage out of these toys:

More Bead Activities:

These chunky beads are a good stand-in for a first set of blocks for little hands. M likes to stack them up to make towers (to knock down again and again).

M also likes to fill and dump objects with these beads (ie. containers with twist tops, empty wipe containers, his dump trucks, etc.)

Sorting and Classifying: Beads can be grouped by color and shape. This is a beginning math skill.

Patterning: Whether stringing them or stacking them, you can introduce beginning patterns by alternating colors and pointing out the pattern to your child, "look, this one has red, yellow, red, yellow, red. Let's make another one that matches." This is another important math skill.

Math Vocabulary to Introduce: different, same, matches, pattern, more, less

Blog Trotting - Tour of Rhode Island

2010-08-18T00:01:00.003-04:00

Blogtrotting is a virtual travel blog hosted by Cara that offers bloggers around the world the chance to share a tour of their state or country with others. What a fun way to learn about other places and people! Although I was born and raised in nearby Massachusetts, I'm happy to bring you on a tour of my current state, Rhode Island:

RI is known for being the smallest state in the U.S. In fact, on a non-traffic day, you could travel by car from one end of the state to the other in about 2 hours!

We have many beautiful beaches and coastal areas in RI and our state is known for everything from the weird and tacky to the traditional and sophisticated:

The Big Blue Bug aka Nibbles Woodaway (Mascot of New England Pest Control ) perches high on a building overlooking Interstate 95 going through our capitol of Providence. He is often decorated for various holidays and has "starred" in movies shot here, such as Dumb and Dumber.

Del's Frozen Lemonade -- a cross between an Italian ice and a Slushie -- just lemon, sugar, and bits of lemon peel make it something to look forward to during the warmer months. Flavors and state locations have expanded over the years.

Coffee Syrup -- Autocrat makes this popular syrup along with the Eclipse brand. Here in RI/Southeastern MA locals enjoy their coffee milk and coffee cabinets (like a milkshake). I have to ship my mother huge bottles of this treat since she has retired to Florida.

Distinct Accent -- like our neighbors in Boston, MA; depending on where in RI you are from there can be a distinct accent -- sounds like we live in "Vo Dylan."

Foster/Glocester --two rural, woodsy towns who share a school district and are infamous to locals for always being the first to cancel schools when it snows. They often get the most white stuff and their tricky rural roads aren't easy to plow and get buses through.

Seafood -- we take it for granted here, but those who move away, like my Mom to Florida, really miss the local seafood -- fish and chips, scallops, lobster, and clam boils. Though nowadays we might not eat as much fried foods as we once did here, summer isn't complete without New England clam cakes and chowder. There are popular little "clam shacks" throughout the state only open during the summer season, such as Evelyn's in Tiverton (featured on Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives) and Flo's in Newport.

New England Clam Chowder and Clam Cakes

Some Notable Locations and Residents:

Providence -- the capitol city where many commute from nearby suburbs, including MA to work. Large concerts and sporting events like those involving the Providence College Friars (basketball) are held at the original Providence Civic Center, now called the "Dunk" because it was renamed the Dunkin Donuts Center in 2001. Not all Rhode Islanders were pleased about this change. Although there are over 150 Dunkin Donuts locations in our small state, this sponsorship seems to be a bit much.

Brown University is one of our shining stars on the historic east side of Providence, where there are many beautiful tudor and victorian homes. The lovely Swan Point Cemetery is where RI born writer H.P. Lovecraft is buried along with other RI notables.

Brown University

H.P. Lovecraft

Trinity Repertory Company in Providence is the main venue for plays and local theatre -- every year they produce a different version of A Christmas Carol there.

The Providence Performing Arts Center, affectionately known as PPAC, is the place to see traveling broadway shows -- just a few months ago I finally saw Wicked on its second journey to Providence.

Providence Performing Arts Center

The city of Pawtucket, RI is home to HASBRO toy company's corporate headquarters, where I once worked years ago as a secretary. Hasbro is well-known for Mr. Potato Head (there he is standing outside of Corporate headquarters), My Little Pony, G.I. Joe, Playskool Brands, and the Milton-Bradley family of games.

Mr. Potato Head - Mascot of Hasbro Headquarters

Sports

Besides the Providence College Friars basketball team, Providence is also home to the Providence Bruins -- minor league team to the Boston Bruins.

Providence Bruins Hockey

The city of Pawtucket is home to McCoy Stadium, where the Pawtucket Red Sox play, the minor league team to the Boston Red Sox.

Pawtucket Red Sox play at McCoy Stadium

I have saved my very favorite area in Rhode Island for last --- Newport, RI, famous for its dozen or so Newport Mansions built along the Atlantic Ocean around the turn of the 20th century. Wealthy socialites and ship traders from New York (the Vanderbuilts for instance) built these outrageously extravagant mansions to serve as their "summer cottages" and were only used 2-3 months during the summer social season. It's a beautiful place to visit, especially decorated during the holiday season or in the summer when you can walk along the property and "pretend" you are looking back at your own home. At least that's what I like to do!

Rosecliff


A Newport Mansion

Boating and sailing are also a popular past time in Rhode Island, and Newport has hosted the America's Cup race several times.

As with all locations, there is always so much more! Check out: Visit Rhode Island

Thanks for joining me!

Four Tips for Finding the Perfect Nanny

2010-08-16T19:14:00.004-04:00

Whether it be in the newspaper or an online service, most parents begin their nanny search by posting an advertisement. As an experienced Sittercity nanny and recipient of their daily job postings for over three years, I'd like to offer four important tips on advertising for your perfect caregiver to help increase your response rates:

1. Be as Detailed as Possible

Include ages and number of children; days and hours needed; and specify a range of pay you are willing to pay for the right person. More and more I have seen ads that are easy to skip over because they contain no actual information. Fight the urge to think aloud as you write, "we might need this or we might need that, or it could change in the future."

Not all jobs are set in stone, but in order to apply for one, prospective babysitters need to at least have days and times in mind that they can count on. Many ads state the need for the nanny to be "flexible" as days and hours can change. If on-call is what you need, then it would be okay to specify this as you will attract the type of person who wants that arrangement. It is rare that any serious caregiver or nanny would be available at any time of day or night. Without any specific details, most will overlook or skip over your ad.

2. Be Careful Not to Come Across Overly Demanding

Must like animals, must be flexible, must be willing to do housework -- this ad is a giant red flag and is a turn-off to prospective caregivers. If parents are willing to be so demanding in an ad, how will they treat the caregiver once they are hired? First impressions are lasting impressions.

3. Be Clear About What You are Seeking

Before writing your ad, think about your goal. Do you want childcare or a housekeeper?

While it is usually expected that a nanny or babysitter will clean up after the children; make their meals; do their laundry; and other agreed upon chores, I see ads that really blur the lines. Many sound like they are looking for a domestic servant who will also be asked to care for the children. Professionally trained and educated caregivers are attracted to the field because they enjoy teaching and taking care of young children -- they are in it for the kids. They do not want to clean your toilets.

4. Do Not Omit the Pay Rate

State a pay rate that you are willing to pay for the right person, whether you have a single figure in mind or it varies a few dollars. If you are ambivalent about how much you will pay for childcare, it will be broadcast loud and clear by omitting this important detail. This omission tells prospective nannies or sitters that you are not willing to pay for quality childcare. Most sitters are willing to negotiate, but will skip over any ad that does not at least state a range.

It might be helpful to think of a caregiver ad in the same way you would advertise for a potential mate. You are trying to attract the right candidate for your family. Tell them about yourself and your needs, what qualities you are seeking, and you will find the perfect caregiver!

For more information about Sittercity and my experience using their service, check out my other post:

Sittercity Nanny? That's Me!

Use promo code TAKE15 to receive 15% off a monthly or annual membership to Sittercity.com until October 31, 2010.

Sittercity Nanny? That's Me!

2010-08-16T19:13:00.005-04:00

People are often surprised to find out that I am a Sittercity nanny and that I joined the service back in the company's early days, long before I started blogging.

Four years ago, when I was a home visitor/parent educator for a Parents as Teachers program, a mom told about a new service that one of her friends started in Boston, MA -- Sittercity! Mostly out of curiosity, but also because I had enjoyed my previous stint as a nanny, I set up a caregiver profile and signed up for their daily job postings.

I received Sittercity daily e-mails for a full year before before finding my perfect position -- three 10-hour days taking care of a 2-month-old boy. I was able maintain my income level while working three long days instead of five, allowing me to take full-time classes to finish my B.A. in early childhood education.

That single nanny job was the only one I applied for and Little M and I have been together for a little over two years!

Sittercity Details:

Search for a Sitter or Post an Ad?

Parents can search through profiles of available sitters in a zip code range or post a specific ad. I always suggest posting a specific ad because many potential sitters can opt to keep their profile invisible (like I did) and only apply to ads that match their own criteria.

For example, in my small zip code, there are 75 visible profiles. Parents can contact visible sitters directly. However, when parents place an add, they are able to view the full profile of all responding sitters (even invisible), their pictures, reviews, and background check results (if the sitter has paid for one*).

Reviews:

Sittercity offers reviews of sitters by parents who have used them and also reviews of parents by sitters. So far I have seen only positive reviews, as it seems no one wants to leave bad feedback. The reviews are most commonly placed on profiles of occasional babysitters rather than long-term caregivers. I suppose no one want to advertise how great their nanny is, lest someone else wants to lure her away!

No Freebies:

One weird glitch I've noticed is parents trying to post an ad without paying for the service or trying to take advantage during a free trial. Parents will try to include their personal information, such as an e-mail or phone number, but Sittercity thwarts their plans -- the email or phone number appears incomplete in the job posting, so no one is able to contact them.

All paid Sittercity users and registered Sittercity babysitters and nannies correspond through a "user@sittercity" address that includes their registration sign-in name.

Terms and Payment:

As of this writing, Sittercity has two paid options:

Option One: one year worth of service for a $119.98 one-time billing charge

Option Two: monthly billing of $9.99 after paying an initial billing charge of $49.98

I think the one-year option is the best value, as the monthly option costs $60 for only two months of use. However, if you are looking for a long-term nanny and have only a couple of months before she starts, the monthly option would probably work well for you.

For help with posting your nanny ad, check out my other post: 4 Tips for Finding the Perfect Nanny

Use promo code TAKE15 to receive 15% off a monthly or annual membership to Sittercity.com until October 31, 2010.

*It currently appears that families can now opt to pay for a background check on a caregiver they are interested in.

Playground Review - Westport, Massachusetts

2010-08-12T20:08:00.001-04:00

Little M and Nanny Rating: * * * * (out of 4)

Each playground is special in its own way, but the Westport Community Center Playground is one of our favorites because of its many features (see photos below):

2 large sandbox areas complete with large trucks of every type plus pails and shovels

A cool sand pulley contraption that really seems to capture the interests of older children as they work together to lift, hoist, and pour sand

4 slides - one small, two larger, and one covered tube slide

Swings - including two bucket seats for babies/toddlers

Climbing steps, platforms, ropes, twists, and wobbly bridge to cross

Riding toys -- large dinosaur, small stationary elephant, a bouncing two-seater (like a teeter totter/seesaw, but stationary)

Little Tykes equipment: for younger children, there are several of these scattered around allowing them to climb and slide at their own pace.

Bonuses:

Completely fenced in with a chain link fence and latched gate. Children can run around and have fun, but they can't run away faster than you can catch them.

Porta-potty -- we haven't used this feature, however, I often see parents and children (including potty trainers) going in there, so it must be pretty well maintained.

Picnic tables and benches

M could stay at this playground for hours due to his love of cement trucks, excavators, and bulldozers! Our first hour or so is usually spent in one or both of the two sand areas. Once he notices the actual playground, there's so much more to do - slides, swings, climbing, and running from one end to the other.

All ages will enjoy this playground as there is something for toddlers to grade schoolers.

Update: June 2017 - The few times we've visited over the last year, we have been disappointed in the physical upkeep of this playground. The grass around playground is often six inches high, and the trash containers were spilling out onto the ground and attracting wasps. The pulley system in one sand area was broken. Since this playground is shared by the next door nursery school, I'm very surprised to see this decline. I hope they remedy these issues soon.

Location/Map: nearby 856 Main Road, Westport, MA

Diagonally across the street from Partners Village Store

entrance side of playground -- slides, swings, riding toys, stairs, ramps & bridge

opposite side with climbing options and tube slide

one of several smaller play structures for toddlers

sandbox with trucks and sand toys

another sand area with a platformed pulley station

Mid-Week Mom Tip - Beach Memories

2010-08-04T06:00:00.003-04:00

Not only is this an inventive idea for a vacation keepsake, but these little sandy handprints would be the perfect addition to the beachy cottage style decor found in coastal New England. It takes a little planning and prep time, but I think it is worth it:

Beach Craft: Make a Sandy Hand Print Keepsake

Thanks to Crafting a Green World for this and other fun projects.

Toddler-Sized Beach and Playground - Grinnell's in Tiverton, RI

2010-08-01T19:14:00.000-04:00

We're running out of places to escape the higher than normal temperatures here in Southeastern MA/RI! Little M (26 months) loves to run and climb, but our usual playground stomping grounds are nothing but burning hot slides this time of year.

Grinnell's, a tiny beach with attached playground in Tiverton, RI was the perfect spot on a recent 88 degree day! As soon as M and I stepped out of the car, we were greeted with the most amazing breeze that cooled us right down. The parking lot is only a few yards from the playground/beach so there was none of the usual hassle accompanied with "going to the beach."

The simple playground contained a single climbing structure with slide, a set of swings; a purple riding dinosaur; and some gymnastic-type parallel bars and other bars to hang from -- all with that wonderful breeze and beautiful water view. Afternoon naps dictate our time table, so this playground was perfect for the two hours we were there. M didn't want to leave -- he never does -- but it was easy enough to persuade him by agreeing to carry him the few yards to our car.

Some Pros:

Toddler-sized; easy in and out; playground; beach; public restrooms; picnic tables; parking lot close by; lifeguard on duty; not crowded; no traffic; easily accessible off a main road; and a lovely view when facing the water.

Some Cons:

Not the most picturesque or pristine beach you'll find as it's right off the road with a gas station and Cumberland Farms across the street on one side. There was some litter and occasional cigarette butt edging the playground near the beach grass. One of the pros for a quick and easy trip also make it a con for some -- parking lot right near beach and visible.

Overall, this beach with attached playground is just the right size for a spontaneous trip. It has a very laid-back, small town vibe. It didn't require any planning, packing, or major trek to get there. We will definitely go back to Grinnell's and plan to enjoy the beach and water next time.

Location/Map: Main Road, Tiverton, RI

Parking Fee: $5 weekdays and $10 weekends (for non-Tiverton residents)

Update: April 2018 - Grinnell's Beach is undergoing a renovation. Sadly, the little retro playground is gone, but hopefully something better will be put in its place. The beach itself should still be a great little location on a hot day, but opening dates have not been posted. Currently, the parking lot is blocked. They have a Facebook page now, so check for up updates: Grinnell's Beach on Facebook

Nearby Food and Fun:

Eveylyn's Drive-In - about one mile from Grinnell's. Evelyn's has been featured on the Food Network's show, Drive-Ins and Dives. Great place for clam cakes, chowder, and other assorted seafood. Better to take out or eat outside on patio/picnic tables.

Gray's Ice Cream - about four miles from Grinnell's. Gray's has yummy homemade ice-cream and delicious hot-fudge sundaes and is located in the historic Tiverton Four Corners district (home to little shops and art galleries). The smallest one-scoop dish or cone is $3.50, which can be a negative when visiting with small children. It would be wonderful if Gray's offered a kiddie-size, as this destination is popular place due to strategically placed park benches facing the adjacent cow pasture:

Above: one of the very large and very loud cows at Gray's Ice Cream in Tiverton, RI

Mid-Week Mom Tip - Sun-upcycled Crayons

2010-07-29T13:57:00.000-04:00

I love crafts with children and love them even more if they are easy and frugal. This post by MaryAnne at Mama Smiles fits every requirement:

Sun-upcycled Crayons